The Oxford Companion to Chess

by David Hooper, Kenneth Whyld

So much has happened in the ever-changing world of chess since 1984, that this new edition of the essential companion to all branches of the game is now 10% longer than the acclaimed first edition.

Much of the original text has been rewritten to incorporate the latest research and developments. There are over 160 new biographies (most of them of today's players), hundreds more names of openings, many more technical terms, and more game scores and compositions than ever before.

Ranging from the earliest myths to the present, the Companion offers full coverage of all aspects of over-the-board play and correspondence chess, and other forms of telechess. Fully cross-referenced throughout, the 2,600 entries take the reader from laws and strategies to details of the
representation of chess in philately, literature, art, theatre, and film.

Genres: Chess, Reference, Games, Nonfiction

483 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1984

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Reviews

[notgettingenough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop it by the bed, cruise in and out of it. I'm not saying it's as good as sex, but.

Here are a couple of things I've found out from it lately.

A goodreader recently asked me what the sexiest chess opening is. Well, it turns out there is a Horny Defence, created by Johann Horny, a 19th century German actor. This has got to be a front-runner, doesn't it?

And there is a chess player in here called Pratt and it turns out, Pratt by name...When he played blindfold chess he'd call his moves out in rhyming couplets. Actually, I fancy that would add to your chances of winning.

[Nosipho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if I haven't read it, it deserves a 5 star rating because I know that through whatever tactic or strategy it might teach me, it would have left a life lesson for me to figure it out

[Morris Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a book you read, but it's great fun to browse. Excellent information about anything and everything to do with chess. It's dated, sure, because the last edition came out in the 1990s. It's still great.

[Takipsilim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Containing bios, stats, and books on the noted figures of the sport, including other information related to the game, this is a good reference for any Chess player and fan.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of information on the game of chess! Covers players, history, openings, and all kinds of other fascinating info for the chess enthusiast.